Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch

About Chipping Sodbury's Big Lunch

Chipping Sodbury's annual street party is usually held to coincide with The Big Lunch, a national initiative started by the Eden Project in Cornwall and aimed at connecting people and bringing communities together.

Big Lunches usually take place annually on the first Sunday of every June.

It's a chance bring your own picnic lunch or buy from one of Chipping Sodbury's independent pubs, cafes and restaurants, set up your gazebos and chairs in Broad Street and enjoy a day with your neighbours and meet new friends.

There's free fun and entertainment for all the family specially-erected hay cart stage.

A range of entertainers take to the stage, including local bands, singers, entertainers and groups of all ages.

Younger visitors can take part in competitions, with prizes, and there's a very popular raffle - tickets are available to buy on the day.

The photographs on this page are kindly supplied by Rich McD Photography. Please note a photographer will be present at this event. Photos/videos may be used for future publicity. If you have any objections, please make these known to a member of the organising committee or the photographer Rich McD by email at (requires JavaScript to display).

Your Sodbury Needs You!

The Big Lunch organisers are a voluntary, non-profit committee with the aim of organising a free day of fun for all and supporting local businesses at the same time.

For more information and to help in any way please search Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch on Facebook and Twitter or email organiser Ali Womack at (requires JavaScript to display).

History of Chipping Sodbury's Big Lunch

Chipping Sodbury came out in force to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with a street party in June 2012.

The celebrations went so well that organiser Ali Womack reassembled the troops to make it an annual event.

June 2013 marked the 60th anniversary of the Queen's 1953 coronation - what better excuse for a traditional British street party?

2014's Big Lunch had a 1940s theme, to tie in with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and 2015 took on the theme of a traditional British Victory Day street party.

Click here to view a time lapse video of the 2014 Big Lunch shot by Rich McD Photography.

Click here to view video snippets from the 2016 Big Lunch shot by Rich McD Photography, and Click here to see his photo gallery on facebook.

It was Seaside Sodbury for 2017 with painted beach huts and a pier.

Click here to see RichMcD Photography's gallery of photos... and click here to see Rich's vlog of the day.

2018’s Big Lunch event coincides with the 800th anniversary of Chipping Sodbury and takes place on the actual date the town was awarded a Market Charter by King Henry III to William Crassus (Lord of the Manor) to first hold a market in Chipping Sodbury in 1218. The medieval themed entertainment includes maypole dancing, a special medieval play performed by Sodbury Players, stocks, local bands and dance groups plus much more! Children can take part in a Knights and Princesses fancy dress competition and we are planning to bury a time capsule on the day.